Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC News At Ten 20240713

Labours boldest promise yet in this election campaign, but it comes with a hefty price tag. Still submerged almost a week after the floods began tonight, around 130 flood warnings are now in place across england and wales, with more rain on the way. Alexander arnold, into kane. Hat trick and a hat trick from captain harry kane sends england firmly on their way to euro 2020. And coming up on sportsday on bbc news. Roger federer and Novak Djokovic battle it out for a place in the last four at the atp finals in london. Good evening. Accident and Emergency Departments in england have recorded their worst performance since current records began in 200a. One in six patients waited longer than the four hour target in october, and the target for starting Cancer Treatment was missed for the 46th month in a row. The total number of people waiting for routine operations is now nearly 4. 5 million. The labour Leaderjeremy Corbyn described the figures as disgraceful and blamed the problems on a lack of staff and funding. But the Prime Minister said they were a result of the huge demand being placed on the National Health service. Heres our health editor, hugh pym. That was when i thought, right, ok, somethings not right. Donald, who was 84, died after sliding off a hospital trolley. Hed been waiting six hours in a e. From 8 15 up until the time he died, nobody came to see him, no pain relief was offered. His daughter, whos a former nurse, said he might still be alive if calls for help had been acted on. I can appreciate how busy nurses are, how busy a e can get. However, come ten oclock, 10 30, when i was speaking to nurses and a doctor saying that my dad needs to be seen, and i wasnt listened to, i was very angry. The hospital said it offered sincere sympathies to donalds family and was investigating the matter thoroughly. The nhs is under intense pressure as patient numbers rise year by year. From 2012, the 95 target for up to four tower in a e was being hit but from 2015 it started declining to its lowest last month. For routine surgery its lowest last month. For routine surgery 92 of patients should be treated within 18 weeks and that hasnt been hit for nearly four yea rs. Borisjohnson was challenged on the declining performance of the nhs. This is basically caused by the huge demand that there is on the nhs and thats why now in the last three months we have done the biggest investment in the nhs in modern times. Nothing happens the last Labour Government increased spending on health in some years more than the conservatives now plan. Today, labour and the lib dems attacked the governments record. The worst performance ever in our a e departments. So many patients will be languishing on trolleys waiting longer and longer and longer for treatment and care in our overcrowded hospitals. This comes after a decade of cuts in our Health Services. Im appalled by these figures today. They are the worst figures on record. Its devastating for patients that need help and support and treatment. Its devastating for those people that work in our health service. In england, 83. 6 of patients were treated or assessed in a e within four hours in october. For the rest of the uk, the latest figures are for september. In scotland the level was 89. 3 in that month. In wales, the number was lower, at 75 . In northern ireland, just 59. 6 were treated or assessed in four hours in major a e units. There were similar pressures on Health Services across the uk. Theyre illustrated by the experience ofjill, aged 88, who has dementia. She was on a trolley in a e for six hours and her family say they witnessed severe stress in the hospital. It was bedlam. There were trolleys in the corridors, there were trolleys in doorways, they were bringing trolleys in, moving your trolley and pushing you further and further and further, meaning you could fit in two more people. If they were moving a trolley they had to move trolleys out of the way to get trolleys by. You are not being neglected, but you feel like you are being neglected. Her family sayjill should never have been sent to a e and she was let down by local community care. The hospitals apologised but said a significant increase in the number of very poorly patients meant services were under considerable pressure. Hugh pym is with me now. These figures were from september and october before winter had set in. There must be real fears about how the nhs is going to cope this winter. Yes, sophie, we havent got to the flu season and seriously cold weather. More patients are being treated year on year. Staff are working really hard, doing their best, just cant hit the targets. A couple of things havent come across in the election debate. First of all, how much money is needed by the nhs to cope with future demand and invest in transforming care in local communities so people dont end up in hospital. What about workforce, where are the future doctors and nurses going to come from when there are thousands of vacancies . There is one particular problem over pensions and tax which means that senior doctors often dont want to do extra shifts to help bring down waiting times because all the extra money goesin times because all the extra money goes in tax. Thats a real headache for employers in the nhs right now. Hugh pym, thank you. The conservatives say they will seek to control immigration by introducing a points based system that would be firm but fair if they win the election. But the home secretary priti patel did not set a specific target for reducing overall numbers. The Prime Minister said immigration could come down in some sectors but he didnt want the uk to be closed to the rest of the world. Heres our home editor mark easton. People have called lowestoft home since the stone age. Its name from the old norse means homestead, but not enough people want to come and live here these days. If lowestoft has an immigration problem, its not that there are too many migrants coming to the town, but too few. The National Immigration figures explain the problem. Since the brexit referendum in 2016 net migration into the uk has fallen. Still historically high, but down 20 . Within that change is a more dramatic shift. Net migration from outside the eu has gone up 21 . But from inside the European Union its down by more than two thirds injust three years. That huge fall in overall eu migration to the uk has seen some sectors that have relied on european workers struggling to adapt. In this part of the world, thats led to insurmountable recruitment problems. Being at the end of the line, and at the edge of everything, we dont have people that just pass through. As chief executive of a Community Trust in lowestoft, emma rapson knows how desperate Staff Shortages can be for the towns most vulnerable citizens. We dont have much immigration out here, which will be, you know, good news to hear for lots of people, but, actually in terms of finding people to fill social worker posts, gp posts, teaching jobs, its actually a real problem for us. Health is a significant concern. There have been moves to bring in gps from abroad. Care homes are closing, there arent enough willing people locally to fill the vacancies. And its that problem that lies behind confusion today as to what a conservative government would do about immigration. A statement from Party Headquarters this morning quoted the home secretary saying. But by this afternoon, she couldnt say whether it should go down or up. The conservative party wants to control immigration. Ill ask again, do you want immigration to go up or down . Well, well be controlling immigration. Does that mean it goes down . Well, well be able to control immigration numbers. Do you want to reduce the numbers of immigrants that come to this country . We want immigration that is fair. The suggestion is you want to lower immigration, is that right . We will be able to control who comes to our country, and also the reasons as to why people are coming here. In middlesbrough on teesside, one can find the other side of the argument, that migrants put extra pressure on Public Services. Local children recently couldnt Access School places in the town because of unexpected foreign arrivals. Well, i think they do need to bring down the population. We havent got enough spaces. Yeah, i think they should bring it down, because obviously its when its concentrated it becomes an impact on the fabric of the town. All the parties give you all the spiel, what they are going to do, what they are not going to do, and then at the end of the day you dont see any difference with any of them. Its the different experiences of places like middlesbrough and lowestoft that explain why the parties wont be clear about immigration. Labours talked of extending Free Movement, the liberal democrats want a system that works for the economy, and the snp wants more immigration for scotland. But in truth, britain still doesnt know what controlling our borders should look like. Mark easton, bbc news, lowestoft. The labour Leaderjeremy Corbyn has refused to say whether he would want to increase or decrease immigration if he became Prime Minister. But he has hinted that labour would make it easierforfamilies to bring relatives to live in the uk from overseas and for Foreign Workers to come to the uk to fill skills shortages. He was talking to our Political Editor Laura Kuenssberg as part of a series of interviews with party leaders. Would you like to see immigration go up or down . I want to see immigration being fair and well see what the outcome of that is, but the principle has to be that the many families in britain that want to bring relatives here, and families should have a chance to live together, but cant because of the income levels they are required to do. And also, we have to be realistic that in this country were not training enough people so theres going to be immigration in the future. As a point of principle, would you be happy if it went up or would you rather see it go down . I want people to be able to be reunited with their families and i want british people to be able to work across europe as they are at the present time, and i think putting arbitrary figures on it, as successive governments have done, simply doesnt work. You dont have a strong view on whether immigration should be higher or lower . I want our system to be decent, to be fair, and our services to be properly run and properly staffed. In september, your party voted to extend freedom of movement. Some of your biggest backers, including the leader of the unite Union Len Mccluskey, think that isnt manageable. What do you think . Well, the conference motion was passed. It doesnt necessarily form part of the manifesto, but i do think we have to recognise there are many people in britain who have partners who are from europe or the other way around and have children, and therefore the children of both. We cannot stop them moving about. Your manifesto in 2017 said that you would end freedom of movement. It sounds like your manifesto in 2019 will Say Something very different. Look, we are meeting this weekend to decide the contents of our manifesto and that will come to a decision. The 2017 manifesto also said, labour accepts the referendum result. Now you are offering people another referendum. Doesnt your change of heart on brexit undermine Peoples Trust . I think what weve done is a sensible approach. I recognise why people voted remain and why people voted leave. But dont you think there will be some people listening to you now who might have voted labour in 2017 who think, hang on a minute, you told me in 2017 that you accepted the referendum result, that it was done, and now this time youre saying its not done . Doesnt that have consequences for Peoples Trust in you . Were doing everything to ensure that the trade relationship, the jobs and the rights that are accompanied by eu membership are retained in the future. And that those very large numbers of people that demanded a referendum have also got the opportunity to make their views known in a final say on it. Labour also used to say there couldnt be another referendum in scotland. Now you say perhaps there might be. Isnt that again a question of trust . No, its a question of realism. The question is, scotland has poverty, has bad housing, has a need for infrastructure investment. Labours position was in the last general election there would not be another Scottish Independence referendum, thats a promise you gave to scottish voters. There is no priority to have a Scottish Independence referendum. We want the early years of a Labour Government to be completely dominated by the investment that we will put into scotland. Youve also said in the last couple of years that you are doing everything you can to stamp out anti semitism in the labour party. And yet in this election your party has selected candidates who have been found to have expressed some anti semitic views. Again, isnt this a question of trust . I have introduced very strong procedures into the party. We go through it, we go through Due Diligence on candidates, and where there are questions theyre brought before a group to answer those questions and then decisions are made. In some cases, candidates are removed. What would you say to voters listening to you today who are just not sure who to trust in this election, and theyre not sure if they can really trust you, whether on brexit, anti semitism or where the party is on immigration . We have an opportunity here to elect a government that will end austerity, we have an opportunity here to elect a government that will invest in the future of this country, an opportunity to elect a government that will start to redress the gross levels of income inequality across britain. And if your determination gets you to number ten, will you live above the shop, will you move into downing street . Well, i will do whatever is necessary to ensure theres Efficient Government of this country. Yes, of course. Jeremy corbyn, thank you very much indeed. Theres an ongoing debate within the labour party over whether it should campaign during the election, for greater freedom of movement. The general secretary of the unite Union Len Mccluskey says there must be certain conditions if labour is to extend the right of citizens to work across the eu. Our Political Correspondent iain watson reports. Just wondering whether were going to be able to count on your vote . Youre going to do this side of the road. Dont vote for a slogan, vote for a policy. Labour activists in this remain voting area of yorkshire want to sell a message they really believe in. The gentleman there was very positive. At labour conference this year, members voted to defend and extend freedom of movement the right of european citizens to work and seek work in the uk. The partys grassroots are now pushing for this to become a fully fledged manifesto commitment for government. The idea for me of having closed borders and not having that freedom of movement is really a terrible one, to be honest. I dont know how it will go down on the doorstep, but i think its important to stand up for the values that you believe in. But some senior figures have been worried about how this will go down, especially in leave areas. The influential leader of the biggest labour supporting union told me new policies to protect workers could make freedom of movement more acceptable. Labours policy will be to protect all workers migrant workers, as well as local and british workers. That is labours policy. It will be done with Labour Market regulations. It wont stop the Free Movement of labour. It will effectively make sure that greedy bosses, agency companies, are not abusing working people. Could you possibly get them all bundled . But labour has wider tensions on brexit. The leadership have set out a route map towards a new referendum and wont officially say if theyll back leave or remain until after the election. But more than 120 labour candidates have signed a pledge making it clear theyll be campaigning to remain. But more than that, many in theircampaign literature are also saying it would be their top priority. And one shadow minister has even suggested that a vote for her was a vote to remain in the European Union. Labour is not a remain party. Labour is a party that speaks for the whole of the nation, and wants to put a proper deal back to the people. The principled and honourable thing to do. We have to get that message across in the leave areas. The task for labour when it draws up its manifesto is how to appeal both to voters and to its members on issues which have divided the country. Iain watson, bbc news. Our Political Editor Laura Kuenssberg is in edinburgh and labour have a big policy announcment tonight promising free broadband for all if elected and part nationalisation of bt. That is right. This is radical, we have been speaking to the shadow chancellorJohn Mcdonnell who would be in charge of the Purse Strings if labour win the election, and they are making a big offer to the public, to offer free are making a big offer to the public, to offerfree broadband for every household in the country whether a millionaire or a hard up family, and they would do that by nationalising part of British Telecom and by putting a tax on the big internet companies. The labour party thinks this is a bold offer that may well prove popular with millions of voters but it could be very controversial. There are questions about its credibility and who would really pick up the tab . And a reminder if any really was needed that although both of the main parties are promising to spend more on Public Services in this election, that there is fundamentally a dramatic difference of opinion between the conservatives and the labour party on how big the role of the state should be and how much they should get involved in the markets. But for the labour party, no question, in this campaign so far, this is the boldest promise yet that they are making to the public. Our Business Editor simon jack joins me youve been speaking to the boss of bt and has this come as something of a surprise . Yes, as recently asjuly yes, as recently as july this year John Mcdonnell said that bt was not oii John Mcdonnell said that bt was not on its list of companies to renationalise and they also dispute the £20 billion figure that labour are saying it would cost too rolled doubtful fibre to the figure, they say would be closer to £40 billion to say would be closer to £40 billion to roll out say would be closer to £40 billion to roll out full fibre. And also, what it is going to do, if bt are going to do this, give it away for free, what is this going to do to the likes of talktalk and sky . It is very unlikely parliament can decide to pay above market value and it could be quite a steep discount and that could mean a hit to millions of savers, millions of whom own bt shares to their pension fund, and one last thing to think about, if you look at the share price of bt tomorrow, they were not on the list for nationalisation but now they are oii for nationalisation but now they are on the list, you will get a very clear view of what the market considers the chances of a Jeremy Corbyn government are by how that share price reacts tomorrow. Simon jack, thanks for joining share price reacts tomorrow. Simon jack, thanks forjoining us. There are around 130 flood warnings in place tonight across england and wales with more rain on its way. In oxfordshire, Emergency Services have rescued a number of people trapped in their cars. Parts of the east midlands have already been hit by heavy rain this afternoon. Our north of england correspondent Judith Moritz has spent the day in South Yorkshire one of the worst hit areas. Mercifully it has stopped now but we have had heavy rain all morning and afternoon, it has been water falling on water extending the anxiety for people here who frankly have already had enough. The disruption, though, does not seem to have got any worse, the flooding has not extended in South Yorkshire, but that is not the same across the country. In england and wales, from the south of england up and wales, from the south of england up to the north east in yorkshire. The cavalry has arrived in fishlake bearing not arms but sandbags. The light dragoons going door to door shoring this village up against the threat of more flooding. These soldiers have been working flat out. And inside the old butchers cafe, the locals have been showing their gratitude, keeping the troops fed and watered. The community have been fantastic and they have got a really difficult set of circumstances here. Its just amazing how supportive they are being to our guys when their livelihoods and lives have been turned upside down in the last week. Some streets have now been underwater for nearly a week. This house belongs to the howsam family. They tried to save their belongings. Today, they were salvaging what they could, knowing they wont be living here again for many months. Weve got somewhere to stay, thats fine. Its just a case of getting everything out the best we can, stuff that weve saved that weve got up in the air, and then just wait. Emergency crews have come here from all over the country, equipment brought from as far away as cornwall. Theyre pumping a tonne of water per second from the village into the river don, trying to keep ahead of the weather. Were worried about the rainfall that has just started here and its moving through the midlands, and the flood affected areas from last week. We need people to take action. By rush hour, other areas were suffering, too. This is the herefordshire worcestershire border where some cars were struggling and others got stuck altogether. There was flooding in the centre of nottingham, and across the West Midlands children were sent home from more than 100 schools. There has also been heavy snow in south and mid wales and tonight dozens of roads are closed in east yorkshire with the rain still falling and the disruption continuing. Judith moritz, bbc news. In italy the government has declared a state of emergency in venice, following the worst flooding the city has experienced in more than 50 years. Our correspondent jenny hill is there. They are keeping an anxious eye on the weather conditions and the water levels tonight. Hi tide is expected to peak here in the next hour or so. These floods, the worst in decades, has really shaken the city, and they are also forcing its inhabitants and authorities to consider a fundamental question, how best in the long term to protect venice from the long term to protect venice from the water which lies all around it . Even as they clear up, the flood alarms are going off. In a few hours it is feared venice will be deluged again. Its a disaster for our family, for all the venetian people. They havent seen anything this bad since the 1960s. One couple filmed as they tried and failed to keep the water out. Water coming from everywhere, we found ourselves surrounded by water. The beauty of this ancient city fragile now. Inside st marks basilica, they are still assessing the damage. The crypt was filled with water. Venice lies low, prone to floods, vulnerable to the effects of climate change, a planned flood defence scheme delayed for years by corruption, scandal and overspend. Little comfort for those watching as the tides rise, fall, and rise again. Jenny hill, bbc news, venice. Its nearly two years since Robert Mugabe was deposed as president of zimbabwe. The man who took over, Emmerson Mnangagwa, came in on a wave of optimism and good will. But today, his government has presented an annual budget in the midst of the worst economic collapse in years. More than half the population needs food aid. Unemployment or underemployment is more than 80 . Inflation is running at around 380 with wage growth running far behind. Doctors have been on strike for weeks, so government hospitals have been closed. The Bbcs Shingai Nyoka reports from harare. One of harares busiest clinics stands empty. The economic crisis has brought the Public Health system to its knees, nurses say they cannot afford to come to work. Normally this clinic would be a hive of activity, it serves about 100,000 people in the community, but there is only one qualified nurse at work and so everyone is being turned away. The sick have nowhere to go. This baby has the flu. There is no medicine, her mother tells me, and no help. For others, the consequences are far worse. This woman did not want to be identified. The previous evening her niece died of heart failure, unable to get medical help. The hospital. There are not doctors, so after two days she passed away. For over two months hundreds of doctors have been on strike, triple digit inflation has slashed their salaries by 80 . At the moment you can see we have nothing in ourfridges. This doctor has now been fired. He wasnt only after better pay. The Health System is just one symptom of the wider collapse. There is a serious lack of fuel, cash and power. Just one in five adults has a formaljob. It was all supposed to be so different when Emmerson Mnangagwa were deposed president mugabe two years ago. It was a hugely popular move. He promised peace and prosperity. In reality, life has become worse. The government blames sanctions but the real reasons are rampant corruption, poor governance and excessive spending. Here, on the outskirts of harare, thousands queue for food hand outs, the worst drought in living memory has compounded the crisis. Half of zimba bwes population needs food aid. This 72 year old scavenges for plastic so she can buy food and medicine. How much do these cost . 2. And where did you get the money from to buy them . Ijust asked some people, if they can give me money. How does that make you feel, when you have to ask people . I have to cry. Today, the government published an optimistic Economic Outlook for the next year. As she prepares a dinner of boiled leaves, it is hard for her to share that optimism. Shingai nyoka, bbc news, harare. Football now and england have qualified for next years european championships with a 7 0 thrashing of montenegro at wembley. It was englands1000th international match, as Natalie Pirks reports. After a week where a team mates spat has divided opinions, englands past players were united at wembley for the nations one thousandth match. This was englands Youngest Team for 60 years and alex oxlade chamberlains first start in 18 months. It feels good to be back. England were brimming with confidence and pinpoint precision. Englands current captain carrying on where englands record goal scorer left off. Kane was clearly the man for the big occasion. When no one bothered to mark him at a corner he made hay. And montenegros tough day at the office was going from bad to worse. A first half hat trick for kane but england 5 0 up. This was one to forget for montenegro. A second half own goal saw england 6 0 up and cruising, but some fans still found cause for complaint. Joe gomez a difficult end to a difficult week forjoe gomez